F.C. Copenhagen defeats FC Nordsjælland 2-0

Coach Stale Solbakken was forced to ring in the changes for FCK’s league clash with FC Nordsjælland, as the international mid-week fixtures took their toll.
 

By Joe Short

Precaution was given to rest William Kvist, after the Danish midfielder played the majority of his country’s 2-2 friendly against Germany. In his place in the centre of midfield came Hjalte Nørregaard, while Martin Vingaard was handed a starting place on the wing over Thomas Delaney.

Kenneth Zohore was granted his first ever start in the white shirt in replace of Jesper Gronkjaer, while Cesar Santin was rested once again in precaution of the injury he sustained two weeks ago. Meanwhile at the back, Solvi Ottesen was unable to recover in time from injury, meaning Mathias Zanka partnered Mikael Antonsson in the middle of defence.

The game began with a brief scare for the home side: a poor pass from Zdenek Pospech was pounced upon by the Nordsjælland front men. However, the danger was easily dealt with by the FCK centre backs.

Any nerves that may have been circulating from this early scare were subdued quickly however, as the Lions opened by dominating possession. Slick passing round the midfield created space for Pospech, Vingaard and Zohore on different occasions, but neither chances troubled the goalkeeper.

After a large build up of pressure, FCK created their first real opening on the 20-minute mark. Oscar Wendt picked up a loose ball to drive at the Nordsjælland defence. A quick flick wide to the overlapping Thomas Kristensen was all that was needed to set the midfielder into the box. His subsequent square cross found Zohore at the near post, but quick reactions by Nordsjælland keeper Jesper Hansen prevented the youngster from opening the scoring.

By the half hour FCK were in complete control of the ball, and yet failed to make the most of the chances they created. In an almost replicated move, Wendt again took advantage of space down the left wing to fire a ball across goal. He found his intended target in N’Doye, but the Senegalese could only find Hansen’s legs, rather than the goal the home crowd were pleaing for.

Seven minutes later Dame N’Doye dropped deep into midfield to pick up a though ball, turned sharply and took on three defenders. He knocked the ball round the last man, and was about to run through on goal when Zohore appeared and placed an effort on goal. The crowd was already half celebrating a goal, before Hansen again tipped the ball round the post.

The goal finally came just two minutes from half time. This time the attack came from the right wing as Pospech worked his way into space level with the penalty area. Reaching the by-line he pulled back his cross to N’Doye who had stopped his surging run to leave him unmarked on the edge of the box. The striker smoothly slotted straight into the bottom right hand corner, much to the crowd’s relief.

The second half began as a more even contest, as Nordsjælland looked to press on the undisturbed FCK goal. Yet they could not trouble Johan Wiland to anything more than goal kicks. At the other end, a Pospech header easily saved was all the home side could muster in the opening exchanges.

A relatively quiet period of the game ensued, with neither team managing to create anything of note for a quarter of an hour, apart from an N’Doye shin run that should have been easily dealt with by the away side.

On 76 minutes Pospech came off for Kvist, and immediately after Copenhagen should have got their second goal. N’Doye on the half way line played Claudemir clear of the high defence. The Brazilian feigned to shoot as he squared across goal to the recently substituted Delaney, but the winger could only place his effort wide of the open goal, much to the home crowd’s dismay.

They did not have to wait long for the decisive goal however, as four minutes later N’Doye wrapped up the game single handedly. Collecting with his back to goal, the marksman battled past his marker, through the centre of Nordsjælland’s defence, rounded the keeper and then an oncoming last-ditch slide tackle, to gleefully slide the ball into the gaping goal.

The relief of the team and crowd was evident and, with the work all but done, the final ten minutes were somewhat of a training exercise. FCK took their foot off the gas, but still had to be on their toes as Nordsjælland looked for a consolation. Twice Mathias Zanka had to block efforts from Nicolai Stokholm, and in the end the only complaint Solbakken can have with his team is that they did not finish off the game sooner.

Another victory for Copenhagen keeps their unbeaten record going, as the Lions have yet to taste defeat this season.